USHUAIA

Originally used as a penal colony from 1902-1947, Ushuaia is commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the planet. Due to proximity to the South Pole, it welcomes thousands of international visitors that travel to Ushuaia lured by the slogan “reach the end of the world”. Situated on the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains, this city offers a spectacular landscape of mountains, sea, glaciers and woods. Colorful man-made structures are picturesque against the silhouette of the Andes.

It’s comfortable accommodation and gastronomy options, combined with outdoor activities such as hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, sport fishing and the most spectacular voyages along Tierra del Fuego National Park makes this city well worth a visit!

The prison at end of the world is another fascinating tourist attraction, along with the Harberton Settlement and the Maritime Museum. In the winter, visitors may enjoy skiing, snowboarding and riding on sleds pulled by dogs at Mount Castor, one of the best ski centers in the country. And for fishing enthusiasts, lots of salmonids can be found in the different rivers and lakes of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. And when tired bodies need to replenish their energy, nothing compares to the delicious spider crabs, shellfish, and grilled Fuegian lamb popular in the region.

ACTIVITIES

Tourism: Tourist attractions include the Tierra del Fuego National Park and Lapataia Bay. The park can be reached by highway, or via the End of the World Train (Tren del Fin del Mundo) from Ushuaia. The city has a museum of Yamana, English, and Argentine settlement, including its years as a prison colony. Wildlife attractions include local birds, penguins, seals, and orcas, many of these species colonizing islands in the Beagle Channel. There are daily bus and boat tours to Harberton, the estancia of the Bridges family. Tours also visit the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. There are a number of ski areas nearby, including Cerro Castor and Glaciar Martial. Hiking trails lead from the city´s edge to the base of the glacier, which has receded dramatically over the past century, as shown in photographs on display. Cruise ships visiting the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and Antarctica dock at the port, The cruise boats and expedition yachts periodically provide scenic cruises to Antarctica. Tourists can also visit Cape Horn island (in Chilean waters) by boat or helicopter.

Sailing: You can hire the cruises to Antartica leaving from Ushuaia. Do not miss the catamaran cruises along the Beagle Channel, in which you will have the chance to watch sea lions, Maguellanic penguins, comorants, and other seabirds. The Harberton estancia, the place where the first white settler lived, is preferably reached in summer. Another interesting excursion is the trip on a sailing ship around Cape Horn and Isla de los Estados.

Ecotourism: A must in this province is the journey to Tierra del Fuego National Park riding the historical narrow gauge train. You can alse trek along the different landscapes of the area, or just relax and watch nature.

Skiing: Both alpine and cross-country skiing can be practiced on the Castor Hill and many other winter resorts. In this area, you have the unique chance to go dog-sledging, where you are pulled by a pack of Siberian husky dogs.

Sport Fishing: Fishing enthusiasts can fish salmonids in the different rivers and lakes of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.

Tasting of Local Food: You will love to taste te delicious spider crabs, shelfish, and grilled Fuegian lamb.

Fast Facts

Description

During the first half of the 20th century, the city centred around a prison built by the Argentine government to increase the Argentine population here and to ensure Argentine sovereignty over Tierra del Fuego. The prison was intended for repeat offenders and serious criminals, following the example of the British in Tasmania and the French in Devils Island. Escape from Tierra del Fuego was similarly difficult, although two prisoners managed to escape into the surrounding area for a few weeks. The prison population thus became forced colonists and spent much of their time building the town with timber from the forest around the prison. They also built a railway to the settlement, now a tourist attraction known as the End of the World Train (Tren del Fin del Mundo), the southernmost railway in the world.

Ushuaia is surrounded by Magellanic sub polar forests. On the hills around the town, the following indigenous trees are found: Drimys winteri (Winter´s bark), Maytenus magellanica (Hard-log Mayten) and several species of Nothofagus (Southern Beech).